Given Donald Trump’s history of making false or misleading statements – and his fixation on people’s physical appearance and size – it’s not a reach to think that he’d exaggerate his height.
The president-elect has long claimed that he stands a commanding 6-foot-3, the Daily Mail reported. But the 78-year-old didn’t appear to measure up to that height, not while standing next to Prince William, who also is said to be 6-foot-3.
The height discrepancy of an inch or two was visible when Donald met the heir to the British throne at the reopening of Notre Dame in Paris on Saturday. Donald and William appeared to enjoy a cordial exchange as they shook hands inside the cathedral, though the prince had to bend his head to meet the shorter man’s gaze.
Donald and William later posed for photos at the residence of the British ambassador to France, as an exercise of soft diplomacy. Donald, again, looked somewhat shorter than the son of King Charles and the late Princess Diana.
Incidentally, the former reality TV star once claimed he could have “nailed” Diana, and he also insisted in 2023 that William’s mother was among the celebrities who wanted to “kiss” up to him before he went into politics, People reported. The latter claim was fiercely denounced by Diana’s brother, Charles, 9th Earl Spencer, who said the princess once likened Donald to a very bad sore in “the arse,” in the one and only time he said she mentioned him.
It’s not likely that William brought up Donald’s boasts and insults at the Notre Dame event. After all, he was there to represent his father and British government. If there’s any consolation, he appeared to tower above the man who once spoke disrespectfully about his mother – even as he also appeared to have a friendly chat with the incoming US president.
Donald, for his part, praised William, quipping to reporters: “Good man, this one.” In a later interview with the New York Post, Donald had more positive things to say about the future king, saying they had a “great” 40-minute chat.
“I asked him about his wife and he said she’s doing well,” Donald told the Post, referring to the Princess of Wales’ treatment over the past year for cancer. Donald also referred to Charles’ cancer battle, saying, “And I asked him about his father and his father is fighting very hard, and he loves his father and he loves his wife, so it was sad. We had a great talk for half an hour, a little more than half an hour. We had a great, great talk.”
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Meanwhile, it’s possible that Donald has become shorter than his stated 6-foot-3. It’s known that men can begin to shrink as they age. Some health experts say men can lose an inch in height between ages 30 and 70, and lose another inch after they turn 80. Donald is almost 80.
According to the Daily Mail, Donald remains sensitive about his height, as he has boasted about the beauty and stature of his oldest daughter, Ivanka Trump. He also has expressed pride in the fact that his youngest son, 18-year-old Barron, has grown to a towering 6-foot-7.
But “rumors have long swirled” that Donald relies on “lifters” – insoles in shoes – or taller heels to give him additional height, the Daily Mail reported.
Unfortunately for Donald, he has begun to appear shorter than he might like when he has recently posed besides other world figures and business leaders, according to the Daily Mail. For example, he didn’t look much taller standing next to the 5-foot-7 French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace on Saturday.
Donald also has been somewhat dwarfed physically by his fervent new supporter, the 6-foot-2 Elon Musk, the Daily Mail shared. When the Tesla and Space X founder joined Donald at his campaign appearances, or when he hosted the 47th president to the November 19 launch of his SpaceX Starship rocket, he stood “significantly” taller than the new president, the Daily Mail reported.
–Martha Ross, The Mercury News (TNS)
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